Friday, December 05, 2008
Might Makes Right
Plutarch, Life of Pompey 10.2 (tr. Bernadotte Perrin):
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They had been harshly used by Perpenna, but Pompey treated them all with kindness except the Mamertines in Messana. These declined his tribunal and jurisdiction on the plea that they were forbidden by an ancient law of the Romans, at which Pompey said: "Cease quoting laws to us that have swords girt about us!"